Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.

Time to take apart the next three episodes of Arrested Development and learn what we should not attempt unless we are professional magicians, what wonderful things George Sr. had to say, and why a banana would want to grab another banana.

Synopsis: To further his magic career, Gob decides to lock himself into and then break out of his father’s prison. Meanwhile, Michael takes Gob’s girlfriend to an awards ceremony and develops feelings for her. Buster begins a relationship with his mother’s frenemy, and Lindsay helps an activist try to save a tree.

“I Won’t Respond to It”: Lucille in response to Michael criticizing her: “If that’s a veiled criticism about me, I won’t hear it and I won’t respond to it.”

Hop-Ons: Michael warns Lindsay that she might get some “hop-ons” while driving the stair car

Swallowing a Key: This is the first time Gob swallows a key as part of a magic trick

Documentary: There are a number of reminders that this is a supposed documentary, including the notice posted when Gob attempts to swallow the key: PROFESSIONAL MAGICIAN. DO NOT ATTEMPT.

Tasings: Gob is tased by the prison guards when he first enters the prison, and later when he tries to escape

Softball: Gob complains that his father never threw the ball around to him as a kid; the two are playing catch when White Power Bill shivs Gob

Notes: Buster receives a note from Lucille Two that reads: “Call me, maybe we could [obscured] some fun together, xoxo.”

Casual Racism: At the Desi awards, Lucille stands in a room full of Hispanic men in tuxedos and notes, “A sea of waiters and no one will take a drink order.”

Mini-Mansion: This is the first time the reporter refers to the Sudden Valley homes as “mini-mansions”

“I’ve Made a Huge Mistake”: Gob first uses this recurring phrase when he realizes there are no private bathrooms in the prison, and later after he promises he’s going to be with Marta for a “long time”

Not Understanding Spanish: The Bluths do not hablan Espanol. Buster, blind without his glasses, turns to a centerpiece with a sombreo on it, and says, “¿Como estoy?” which means, “How am I?”; Michael tells Marta that he has no idea whether she has won her category

You’re Gross: Lindsay tells the activist that he’s “gross,” an insult that she uses later

“Family First”: When Marta thanks Michael for escorting her to the Desis, he replies, “Well, you know, you’ve got to put family first. That’s the stupid thing that I believe.”

Future References:

Carl Weathers: Lindsay explains that Tobias is at “a weekend stage-fighting workshop with Carl Weathers,” who will later appear in the series

“That’s Why You Never/Always…”: The activist, upon realizing that the tree has been cut down because he left it, says, “That’s why you never get out of the tree.” Later, J. Weatherman uses the same line when teaching the Bluth children various lessons

Dr. Miller: Lucille threatens to call Dr. Miller to calm Buster down; Dr. Miller is the family doctor who appears in “My Mother the Car”

Easter Eggs (if you don’t speak Español):

Ramon Villalobos tribute card describes him as ”artista del maquillaje de la peca,” which translates as a “makeup artist for freckles.”

Synopsis: Tobias and Lindsay visit a marriage counselor. Michael arranges a conjugal visit for his parents; it is revealed that George Sr. had been having an affair with his secretary, Kitty, whom Gob also sleeps with.

What to watch for:

Callbacks and Recurring Jokes:

Alliance of Magicians: In an attempt to regain his membership to the alliance, Gob intends to write a strongly-worded letter to the prison warden who refused to acknowledge that Gob had accomplished his escape.

Newspaper Headlines: “Hocus Bogus” is the headline in reference to Gob’s supposed escape from prison

Is Tobias Gay?: Tobias’ headshots include one of him in a leather daddy outfit, complete with ball gag; Tobias and Dr. Gunty nearly kiss after doing some role playing in which Tobias played Lindsay

“Family First:” George Michael reminds his father that he always says “family first” to convince him to take him to the prison to visit George Sr.; George Sr. decides to visit Lucille in the conjugal trailer before Kitty because “family first”

Softball: George Sr. is playing a softball game when it turns violent after he bribes the ump to make a bad call

Oz/The Wizard of Oz: George Michael as a young boy watches HBO’s prison drama Oz, thinking that it is The Wizard of Oz, while wearing a tin man’s hat — which Tobias dons in a later episode. (“S.O.B’s”) Additionally, Liza Minnelli (Lucille Two) is Judy Garland’s daughter in real life.

No Touching: The prison guards restrain George Sr. when he demands George Michael’s hair

Ice Cream & Ice Cream Sandwiches: Michael gets everyone ice cream sandwiches while visiting George Sr. in prison; Lindsay and Tobias claim they are going out for ice cream when they are really visiting the marriage counselor; Michael complains that all his father is doing in prison is eating ice cream and playing softball

Hop-On: A prisoner uses the stair car to escape

Causal Racism: George Sr. reminds Michael of Lucille’s “car jacker;” we cut to Lucille macing an innocent Hispanic orange-seller who approaches her car

Horny: George Sr. describes himself as “Daddy horny, Michael,” a description that will be used in future episodes

“Wonderful Things:” When asked if George Sr. said he missed Lucille, Michael responds that he said some “wonderful things” rather than the business of being horny; Michael repeats this line in a later episode to Lindsay regarding Tobias

Friends: There are several Friends references through the series. In their role-playing exercise, Dr. Gunty yells, “If I’m no Schwimmer, you’re no Jennifer Anniston!”

“I *bleeped* …”: This is the first time Gob proudly announces that he has schtupped someone

Repulsive: Gob describes Kitty as “repulsive” which, when George Sr. tells Michael he’s done a “repulsive thing” makes Michael realize that his father had Kitty in the conjugal trailer.

Bear: George Sr.’s nickname is apparently “Bear.” Lucille describes George as her “husband, the bear” and he replies, “Spare me some honey, wife.”

Gob Sees His Parents Having Sex: The conjugal trailer is the first of many instances in which Gob inadvertently watches his parents having sex to his horror

Dr. Gunty’s Giggle: Dr. Gunty announces that he wants to become an actor to Tobias and Lindsay and giggles just like Tobias did in “Pilot” when he made the same announcement

Light Treason: George Sr. admits to Michael that he might have committed “light treason”

Future References:

Tobias’ Never-Nudism: Lindsay pulls Tobias’ towel off to reveal the cut-offs underneath, but it is yet unexplained

Kilimpy’s: As George Michael and Maeby are watching television, a commercial for Klimpy’s, a chain restaurant, is playing. In a later episode (“Public Relations”), Lindsay and Lucille have a fight in a Klimpy’s.

“Give Pop-Pop your hair:” George Sr. demands George Michael’s hair, foreshadowing George Sr.’s future escape attempts using wigs to disguise himself as his twin brother Oscar

This episode was originally broadcast as the 6th episode, but was included on the DVDs as the 5th episode. The next episode, “Charity Drive,” was filmed as the 6th episode, but originally aired as the 5th episode — which is why some places stream “Charity Drive” first. Kitty is given more of an introduction in this episode.

Dr. Phil Gunty is played by Bob Odenkirk who co-starred with David Cross on the cult comedy series, Mr. Show with Bob and David (which you should go and find and watch because it is genius).

Synopsis: Michael discovers his siblings have been hiding their father’s Mercedes from him, and reclaims it. Michael and Lindsay each try to prove how charitable they are; Buster hides from Lucille Two; and Gob creates “Bananagrabber.”

What to watch for:

Callbacks and Recurring Jokes:

Ice Cream & Ice Cream Sandwiches: In flashbacks, Michael spills his ice cream in his father’s car; when Michael finally does drive the car, he notes he’s going to get some ice cream

“From Whence it Came”: When Michael tells Gob that Tobias left the stair car in the airport parking lot, Gob’s response is, “Frome whence it came”

Newspaper Headline: “‘Actor’ causes mass delays in western flight grid” reads the story about Tobias leaving the stair car on the runway

Mr. Bananagrabber: Gob creates the animated character in this episode

Causes & Charities: Lindsay is featured in the “Ladies of Literacy” calendar; the “Save the Wetlands Bachelorette Auction;” and Lindsay is wearing a “Neuterfest ’98″ t-shirt while working in the wetlands, a charity that she mentioned in “Key Decisions”

Iraq: Lucille grouses at the maid who is cleaning the fireplace that she hopes she has an “exit strategy.” The term “exit strategy” refers to a military plan to leave a warfare situation, and George W. Bush was widely criticized for not having an exit strategy in the Iraq war. The war and Sadaam Hussein are repeatedly referenced and alluded to throughout the series, as George Bluth was building homes for Hussein in Iraq. Thus, “light treason.” “Exit Strategy” is also an episode title later in the series.

Casual Racism: Lucille snips that, “They didn’t sneak into this country to be your friends;” Michael mistakes a strange Hispanic woman for his mother’s maid; the woman mistaken for Lupe can’t identify Michael in the line-up

Incest & Inappropriate Relationships: Lucille is planning on making Buster bid on her at the Bachelorette Auction, but he accidentally bids on Lucille Two

Charlie Brown/Peanuts: Lucille exclaims “Good grief!” when Buster is incapable of keeping track of their auction scheme. “Good Grief” is another episode title.

Whistle: Gob breaks a tooth while eating a candy apple, causing him to whistle; Mr. Bananagrabber also has a whistle; Buster mentions his rape whistle

Not Understanding Spanish: Michael doesn’t understand the woman who he believed was Lupe when she says in broken English that she is “scared-o,” and he interprets her saying “izquierdo,” which means left in Spanish

Gob in a Costume: Gob dresses as a delivery man in an attempt to get into the permit office

No Touching!: George Sr. notes the prison’s no touching rule and flouts it so as to hit Gob for sending George Michael to steal the permits

Future References:

Buster’s Rock: Buster leaves a number of items from his archeological dig in the car, including a giant rock which knocks Michael unconscious in a future episode (“My Mother the Car”)

Hidden Jokes:

Lindsay’s “NeuterFest ’98″ T-shirt

Candy Apple Sign: A sign at the candy apple stand (on the fridge) where Gob buys the apple he breaks his tooth on reads: “Proprietor not liable for dental damage.” A different sign reads that another stand offers frozen bananas

Notes:

This episode was filmed as the 6th episode, but originally aired as the 5th episode — which is why some places stream “Charity Drive” before “Visiting Ours.”

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.